1. She will fall happily and madly in love.2. She could be dead before she turns eighteen.

The summer before that fateful birthday, Maris is in the wealthy beach town of Cross Cove with her estranged father and his new family–and the infamous Duvals. Since the youngest member of the Duval family, Edison, is back from college and back in the arms of Maris’s new stepsister, her summer looks to be a long string of lazy days on the Duval’s lush beach.

But Edison is hiding something. And the more Maris learns about him, the more she’s given signs that she should stay as far away from him as possible. As wrong as it is, Maris is drawn to him. Around Edison, she feels truly alive and she’s not willing to give that up. Even if it means a collision course with destiny.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Happily and Madly stuck out to me because it sounded like a nice summer read with some excitement mixed in with the thriller and suspense angles. I had never heard of Alexis Bass before, but I was intrigued after reading the synopsis for her book.

I will start by saying I really wanted to like this book. It sounded interesting. Even a bit unique compared to the stories that seem to have a little bit in common the more and more you read. Unfortunately I struggled with this book from the beginning. Right out the gate the reason for Maris being with her dad and his “new family” is confusing and she jumps between why she is there and their family orientation and her as a child. It moves very quickly so even though she is explaining it, it was confusing and rushed. Then right after that we are thrown in to a higher intensity moment when she meets Edison. It was again very rushed and didn’t really make much sense. As I continued to read, I couldn’t quite bring myself to like any of the characters.

The writing is pretty good, and the idea behind the entire plot of the story would be great, but I feel like it was a bit all over the place. It’s rare, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish the book in full. Leaving a little mystery for the reader is always a draw, but the way the story moved left me confused and having to go back and reread to see if I had missed something.

I wanted to like it more and I always like to give an author the benefit of the doubt. I won’t like every book, but I may like her next or a previous one, so I plan to pick out another Alexis Bass book and give it another try. Unfortunately, this one fell short for me. I recommend you try it out and see if you enjoy it more than I did.

STAR RATING: 1/5

Pick up your copy of Happily and Madly by Alexis Bass on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can also check out more from author Alexis Bass on her website HERE.

Adrian is used to being on the go with the band. Traveling during the day, playing at night, and partying til morning. But now everyone’s getting older and starting to settle down, what does that mean for the crazy, free loving guitarist?

Chase has dedicated his life to helping others. Never liking the spotlight he has spent his time serving the community in the only way he knew how: as a police officer. However, unexpected news from the doctor has forced him to leave his career behind and try to enjoy what time he has left.

A chance encounter when doing the walk of shame leads Adrian and Chase to a love affair that no one expected, least of all Adrian. Knowing the time they have together won’t last, Adrian sets out to make sure Chase’s last moments on this earth are memorable. With the help of his bandmates they set out to pull off the ultimate bucket list. As fun as chasing dreams is, sometimes the domestic life doesn’t sound too bad either.

Can Adrian and Chase carve a life out for just themselves when old flames, health scares, and Adrian’s own reluctance to grow up keep popping up just when a simple life seems possible?

REVIEW:

I read the first book in this series last year and I named it one of my top 10 books of the year. When my friend told me she was editing the second book in this series, I told her I needed to read it. I was thrilled when she finally emailed it to me. I hoped that it would be just as good as the first one!

Adrian has always had an exciting life. Playing with a band, he lived a fair amount on the road. He loves life on the road. Ethan and Cleo, the main characters from Missing You, Missing Me, get married and want to settle down for a bit and be a family. Adrian goes home the night of the wedding with a woman for a quick one nighter. As he is leaving, he runs into Chase doing a quick morning get away. Later on, Adrian’s date called in a favor to have Adrian “arrested” because his date thought that the night was going poorly. Chase was the officer that arrested him. As Chase is dropping him off he slips Adrian his number. They eventually go out on a date for a drink and slowly things become more serious. One day Chase tells him that he has a brain tumor and his time on this Earth is short. Adrian is asked by Ethan to fill in as guitarist. Adrian accepts but only if Chase can come. Chase goes with the band and, as time goes on, Chase’s health begins to decline. Before they leave on the trip, Adrian and the band come up with a “fuckit” list. Slowly they do everyone’s wishes before Chase dies. Will Adrian and Chase realize they have the real deal when it comes to relationships? Will Chase realize that he has more to live for and finally decide to accept treatment?

I went into this book with such great expectations and high hopes. While the book didn’t let me down, the middle part of the book dragged a bit and had me wondering when things were going to pick back up again. While I really loved Chase and Adrian’s story I found myself looking more for Ethan and Cleo. Thankfully the author does continue their story in this book. As the book came to an end, I found myself on the edge of my seat cheering for Chase and Adrian. I wanted them to succeed in their relationship and take that next step to become a family. The author wrote the characters well. Really gave them issues that we can all see ourselves having. Be it alcohol abuse, family issues or giving up on medical treatment because you think that it won’t work. I wanted to hug Chase tight as he was having all of his hospitalizations. I wanted to smack Adrian when he was putting Cleo and her issues first and not Chase. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the next book. I will be first in line to buy it.

STAR RATING: 4.5/5

Pick up your copy of Promising You, Promising Me by Tylor Paige on Amazon now! Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out book one in the series, Missing You, Missing Me as well and check out our review of that book HERE!

Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he’s losing his vision at seventeen?

Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she’s starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.

Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

When Summer Ends was a feel good story with a lot of ups and down similar to the likes of Sarah Dessen and Colleen Hoover.

The story followed Aiden and Olivia as their two life journeys crossed and brought about a summer of finding themselves, recovering from losses of different kinds, and having a good time. While it did have that summer feel good vibe to it that I so love in many of the Teen Fiction books I read, When Summer Ends also brought a lot of emotions and real life situations that teenagers find themselves in.

I felt like we got to witness the characters growing as individuals as we read about their journey and I found myself smiling or groaning at different points when I just knew something was going to throw things off kilter. This always makes for good reading and author Jessica Pennington did not disappoint. Olivia was relatable and likable. Aiden was that untouchable boy in high school that suddenly surprises you because he’s just like any other boy, but maybe with some outstanding looks. I loved the emotion level that was just under the surface of every scene. You could feel what they were feeling and it brought a lot to the story.

I’m a huge fan of Sarah Dessen as an author and Jessica Pennington writes similar to her, but has her own style that I love. This book is perfect for laying on the beach and soaking up her words.

STAR RATING: 5/5

Pick up your copy of When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Also make sure to check out more from author Jessica Pennington on her website here!

Orphaned and unhappy, Ally Hunter makes a life-changing decision to move across the country to a small town that once felt like home. As she reinvents herself, she realizes there’s one part of the equation missing—love. However, a tragedy from the past makes her hesitate when it comes to giving up her heart.

A betrayed man looking for a sense of pride.

Abandoned by his first love and family, Ronan has one friend he can truly count on—his two-hundred-pound mastiff, Henry. When he returns home from service in the National Guard, though, he finds his entire life catapulted in a different direction with the disappearance of his beloved dog.

A loyal four-legged friend who will unexpectedly bring them together.

When Henry, Ronan’s brindle mastiff, finds himself far from home, Ronan sets out on a journey to bring him back. However, as the trail to Henry leads Ronan to Ridgewood, Virginia, and an interior designer with a big heart, he’ll realize some hardships lead to beautiful discoveries.

The Trail to You is a sweet stand-alone romantic novel.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

I was so excited when I got an email from the author asking me if I would read her newest book. I have been waiting patiently for her next book to come out and I couldn’t wait to get started.

Ally has just recently moved to a new town in Virginia. She is looking for a fresh start after the traumatic death of her parents a little over a year ago. Ronan has to go away on deployment with the National Guard in Pennsylvania. He leaves his dog, Henry, with Monica. He returns from deployment to find his house empty and Henry is nowhere to be found. Ronan looks everywhere for his dog eventually finding the rescue where Henry was dropped off. The people at the rescue can’t tell him who actually adopted Henry. Ronan eventually tracks him to the town that Ally lives in. Little does Ally know that he is searching for the dog that she just begrudgingly adopted. Ronan finally tracks Ally and his missing dog. Sparks fly between them. He wants his dog back and Ally is not prepared to give him up. Ronan stays in town for a bit and asks Ally if she can watch Henry while he went back up to Pennsylvania for National Guard drills. When he returns, he tells her that he is moving to the town permanently and asking if she wants to have joint ownership of Henry. Ally is over the moon and agrees. Will Henry throw two lost souls with walls around their heart together? Will they realize they are soulmates before it’s too late?

This book was fantastic. I started to read it about 3 months ago but stopped because I had another book due that I had to read. Once I came back to it I finished it in about 1.5 days. It was so good. The characters are well rounded and have believable issues. Once again, the romance is good and clean. It’s a book that I wouldn’t mind if my mom or kids read when they got older. Let’s be honest if this author wrote absolute drivel and I would still read it. I love her writing style that much. I will be waiting patiently for the next book with bated breath.

STAR RATING: 5/5

Pick up your copy of The Trail to You by Lindsay Detwiler on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or a bookstore near you. Also make sure to add it your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Check out more of our reviews of Detwiler’s previous books, such as Texan Hearts, Still Us, and more. You can look at all Detwiler’s books on her website HERE!

We got to sit down with this incredible LA based pop funk duo KiSMiT. With new music just out and more on the horizon, they had a lot to say about what we can expect from them in 2019.

NP: Tell us first how you got started as KiSMiT

KiSMiT: Baz & I met in a
songwriting class 7 years ago, fell in love and never imagined our dreams would
become intertwined. He played guitar, I love to sing, it was natural and we
were grateful for a connection that felt unlike anything I’d experienced before.
Knee deep in college debt, we got a job as an acoustic duo on a cruise ship and
sailed around the world for a year making music. Four years ago, we anchored in
LA to focus on sharing our original music and ‘KiSMiT,’ which means unshakable
destiny or fate, was born.

NP: How would you describe your music to someone who has
never heard it before?

KiSMiT: I like to describe it as a mixture between Quincy Jones and Florence + the Machine. Power pop over a bed of funk and “pop funk” tends to be the genre that resonates most for me.

NP: You have a new single out, “No Turning Back.” How
did you pick this as your next single?

KiSMiT: ‘No Turning Back’ felt more
like the turning of a page and less like a single. The song is a mantra to keep
going down your path no matter what gets in your way to distract or scare you
away from it. Our debut EP ‘Cosmic Love’ was released in May of last year and
‘No Turning Back’ feels like a building block on top of that solid foundation.

The choreography from our music video
is now weaved into our live show and that changed a lot for me. It’s also the
title of our most recent tour, so there’s a lot about this single that feels
monumental for the KiSMiT team. It was sort of a no brainer that it would be
our pre summer smash as the seasons change and world starts to heat up again!

NP: Now that it’s out, do you have more music in the
works? Maybe an EP or album?

KiSMiT: Always! We are releasing our next single, ‘Show Me’ in May, with a music video to accompany that and possibly another in June. We are an indie band in the era of singles, so we will keep trickling new tasty tunes until they accumulate into an EP or debut album.

NP: What big plans are you setting up for the remainder of
2019?

KiSMiT: Filming our next music video
‘Show Me’ early May – it’s our first music video with a narrative and I get to
dive into my acting background which I’m excited about. After that, it will be
back to the studio to cook up new jams (or yams as we refer to them with our
friends, big sweet potato lovers over here!) We just got home from tour and so
we’re both itching to get back into creation station and make new music so we
can dream up new videos and a tour for fall!

NP: Where can fans keep up with our music online?

KiSMiT: Everywhere they listen to
music! @kismitmusic is how to find us on all things social.

NP: Thank you for taking time to answer some questions for
us. We are looking forward to more from you!

KiSMiT: Thank you for taking the time to dive into our story and share it!

Make sure to check KiSMiT online using @kismitmusic on all social media accounts. Also download their music from iTunes, Amazon Music, or your preferred music source. Check out the music video below!

The Bigtree alligator wrestling dynasty is in decline–think Buddenbrooks set in the Florida Everglades–and Swamplandia!, their island home and gator-wrestling theme park, is swiftly being encroached upon by a sophisticated competitor known as the “World of Darkness.”

Ava, a resourceful but terrified twelve-year-old, must manage seventy gators and the vast, inscrutable landscape of her own grief. Her mother, Swamplandia!’s legendary headliner, has just died; her sister is having an affair with a ghost called the Dredgeman; her brother has secretly defected to the World of Darkness in a last-ditch effort to keep their sinking family afloat; and her father, Chief Bigtree, is AWOL. To save her family, Ava must journey on her own to a perilous part of the swamp called the “Underworld,” a harrowing odyssey from which she emerges a true heroine.

REVIEW:

I had never heard of this book before getting it assigned to me for my club book. While the star rating wasn’t exactly high, I viewed that with a grain of salt because not everyone has the same book tastes. I was also looking forward to reading about alligator wrestling.

Ava Bigtree can’t wait to wrestle alligators, like her father, or swim with them, like her mother, at their alligator farm/tourist trap/family home. They call their pride and joy Swamplandia! They do multiple shows a day. While Ava, at the tender age of 13, is still too young in her parent’s eyes to do everything that they do. Instead, her parents make her and her siblings, Kiwi and Osceola, run the tours in the museum and do the concession stand. In a horrible turn of events, their Mother (and star attraction) dies of cancer thrusting the whole family into disarray. They begin to lose visitors and are eventually forced to shut down. Osceola starts talking to ghosts and practicing voodoo. Kiwi leaves in the middle of the night to go to the mainland taking 300 dollars from his dad’s wallet. Ava’s father eventually goes to the mainland and tells Ava he will be back in 3-4 months. Ava is left alone with Osceola, who is acting weirder and weirder. She tells Ava she is dating a ghost who died in the 1930’s. Osceola tells Ava she is leaving for the underworld to marry her boyfriend. Ava is left by herself. One day, while exploring the island, she runs into the Bird Man, He clears the unwanted birds from the island. He offers to take her to the underworld to rescue her sister. On the mainland, Kiwi is working at a rival alligator park trying to save up enough money to help his dad save Swamplandia! Will Ava be able to save her sister before it is too late? Will Kiwi make enough money to help save Swamplandia! from foreclosure?

I finished this book, put it down and said: “WTF did I just read?” I did not like this book. I found it rather boring. It was very this happened then this happened and then she did this. It felt very flat and lacked depth. While the idea behind the storyline was interesting, it just wasn’t delivered well. I know the whole point of a book club is to read books that are normally not in your wheel-well. However, after reading this book I want to smack the person from our book club who selected it with a wet noodle. I felt like I had to drag myself through the book. It took me twice as long to read as normal and I stopped reading it for several weeks before forcing myself back to finish it.

STAR RATING: 2/5

Pick up your copy of Swamplandia! by Karen Russell on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and a bookstore near you. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Check out more books from author Karen Russell on Amazon HERE!

A high-society wedding planner, a hunky best man, and an enchanted elevator… who can resist An Irish Flirtation?

Jillian Baxter has worked hard to build her event planning business, and this wedding is proof that she’s made it. The problem? The bride redefines bridezilla. After months of work, Jillian now has three weeks to move a huge society wedding from New York to an Irish castle.

Luckily, Castle Tullamore Hotel is available. Although… it’s a bit odd. When Jillian arrives and meets the groom’s brother, Fin, it’s almost like magic steps in. She knows bridezilla would never stand for fraternization, but despite doing her best to keep her distance, Jillian finds herself unable to resist Fin… especially in that damn elevator!

Author’s Note: This is a revamped, substantially longer version of an earlier book, and is available as part of the Emerald Isle Enchantment boxed set.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I recently finished the newest book in the Emerald Isle Enchantment series and I knew that I wanted to read more. While this book doesn’t revolve around the same characters it does revolve around the same location, the Castle Tullamore Hotel. I hoped that it would expand on some of the back stories of the location I was just beginning to learn about. I was excited to read this short novella.

Jillian is a wedding planner in NYC. She takes her job very seriously. She is a consummate professional. She has worked very hard to build her business up and to get a good reputation. Everything is going swimmingly until the bride for her upcoming wedding calls and demands that she move everything over to Ireland so she can get married closer to her fiance’s Irish roots. She also demands to get married in a castle. Jillian is dumbfounded. How is she going to manage it? She is thrown a life-line in the form of a phone call from the groom. He gives her his brothers number who still lives in Ireland. She calls his brother, Finlan, and he offers her the use of his personal assistant. She gratefully accepts. When she arrives in Ireland for the last preparations before the wedding, she is surprised to find that the groom’s brother has arrived at the castle to help her with anything she made need. When they finally meet, sparks fly. Will the castles magical elevator pull one of its famous tricks? Will the haunted rose garden approve of the match?

This book was so good. I have read several Louisa Masters book and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint in the hot and steamy department. While this book actually came out prior to her most recent one, Irish Attraction, it is not necessary to read it beforehand. You can read them as a stand alone. You do get an idea about what is special about the castle and meet some of the staff members of the hotel. The book is short and sweet coming in at just 83 pages. While it is short it is well written and there are no loose ends hanging when you reach the end. The characters are well rounded and have backstories. I can’t wait until the next book comes out and continues the story of the wonderful Castle Tullamore Hotel.

STAR RATING: 5/5

You can pick up your copy of An Irish Flirtation by Louisa Masters on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or a bookstore near you. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Check out more from author Louisa Masters on her website HERE!

When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.

On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

REVIEW:

I had no clue that Crazy Rich Asians was actually a book/series until after watching the movie. I had never heard of it even though it had been out for a while. I loved the movie so much I knew that I had to read the book. Let me just say I was not disappointed. If I didn’t have other things to read on a deadline I probably would have read the entire series one after another.

As the story opens, we are with Rachel and her boyfriend Nick. He is trying to convince her to spend the summer with him in Singapore. He is going home to be best man for his best friends wedding. While they are talking and eating their food, Nick is photographed by someone who recognizes him. The photo gets sent around to a ton of people and the rumor that Nick is dating a women gets back to his mother. She has no clue that her son is seeing anyone. She sets some wheels in motion to find out all about Rachel Chu. Rachel agrees to go with Nick to Singapore. She is starting to look forward to it. She can’t wait to try all sort of new foods and authentic ones at that. Rachel begins to wonder about who Nick is when he is called Mr. Young at the airport and the stewardess says she has his regular drink ready for him. She is even more shocked by the first class accommodations that Nick booked for them. What Rachel doesn’t know is that her boyfriend of the last two years is rich and crazy rich at that. Will Nick’s mother ruin their relationship with her information? Will Nick come clean and tell Rachel about his family before its too late?

I absolutely devoured this book. It was sooooo good. It added so many more layers to the characters that we meet in the movie. The book is well written and easy to read. While you are not going to get some sort of deep philosophical plot line it is still a good book. I fell in love with all the characters again. The book made me love Astrid, the cousin, even more. She didn’t seem as helpless as I thought she seemed in the movie. The book shows how, even though they are rich, do not have their lives together as much as it seems. Just because they are rich doesn’t mean their lives are perfect. They all have flaws and they all have family problems no matter how they present their lives to the press and media. I will be reading the other two books in the series as soon as I can. I will also be doing a book to movie comparison as well so watch for that coming out soon.

STAR RATING: 5/5

Pick up your own copy of Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out more books from author Kevin Kwan, including the second book in this series, China Rich Girlfriend, on his website HERE.

But her plans didn’t include a job at Wish Catering. And they certainly didn’t include Wes.

But Macy soon discovers that the things you expect least are sometimes the things you need most.

REVIEW:

I have never read anything by this author, although they are one of my friend’s favorites. You would think that hearing her talk about this author on multiple occasions would have lite a fire under me to read something by her. It wasn’t until I found a copy of her favorite book at Goodwill that she convinced me to read it before sending her the better copy because her copy had all but fallen apart from repeated readings.

As the book opens, Macy is helping her boyfriend, Jason, pack for “Brain Camp”. She is helping him check and recheck his lists and sub-lists of things to pack. She doesn’t want him to leave. What will her summer consist of? She has already agreed to take his job at the local library at the information desk. Paired with her studying for her SAT’s, her summer looks rather boring. One day she is helping her mother with an open house for the housing development that her mother and father started. Her mother has been working a lot harder at it since her father unexpectedly passed away while out for a jog. Macy helps her mother by passing out brochures and directing people to the restroom if they need it. This time she goes into the kitchen to pass a message along and is greeted with a scene of chaos. The catering company which consists of the owner, Delia, and her nephews, Wes and Bert, and friends of the family, sister duo of Kristy and Monica, are all in there. Suddenly, Macy finds herself helping to plate crab cakes. Delia tells her that she has a job if she ever wants one. As summer starts up she finds that she hates the library job with a passion. One night as she heads home, she sees the catering truck and in a split second, she decides to follow them. Before she loses her courage, she asks Delia for a job. She starts helping out that night. As things progress, she becomes friends with everyone. They show her there is a life outside of the square that she has built around herself. Things fizzle out with Jason and slowly heat up with Wes. Will her newfound friends be able to help her live her life to the fullest? Will she finally be able to grieve for the father that she lost?

O.M.G……. this book was soooooo good. I have become a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I am so glad that my friend asked me to read the book before sending it off to her. The author weaves a wonderful story filled with lessons that leave you thinking about things. The way that Macy dealt with the grief of her father dying, especially since she was the one that found him on the sidewalk and rode with him in the ambulance, changed her markedly. The author beautifully delivers this information in a way that is easy to understand. The romance here was subtle. It is very appropriate for teens. I don’t know what else to say about this book aside from “go read it”!! I will be reading more books by this author in the near future.

STAR RATING: 5/5

Pick up your copy of The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check our more books from author Sarah Dessen on her website HERE!

For fans of high-concept thrillers such as Annihilation and The Girl with All the Gifts, this breathtaking dystopian psychological thriller follows an American academic stranded at a Swiss hotel as the world descends into nuclear war—along with twenty other survivors—who becomes obsessed with identifying a murderer in their midst after the body of a young girl is discovered in one of the hotel’s water tanks.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Last by Hanna Jameson was not at all what I had been expecting, but so much more than I had thought I’d get at the same time.

The story follows an American Historian at a hotel in Switzerland when the world goes crazy and nuclear war begins. It seems all the major cities are gone, the skies turn orange, and a majority of the hotel guests flee in hopes to finding out what happen and getting home.

Jon is the main character here and we see everything from the point of view of his writing. He is telling us what is happening. Documenting, if you will. A small group of twenty or so people have stayed at the hotel. Months go by and links to the outside are slim. On top of the obvious problem of nuclear war, possible radiation poisoning, shortening of food and supplies, and feeling trapped, there are other crazy things happening. A young girls body is found and Jon gets embroiled in finding out who did it.

I liked all the different characters and learning about their personalities and quirks from Jon’s perspective. I thought that was very unique in how you see someone. A lot of times it’s just an overview of how someone looks and what they act like, but there was an opinion behind every description. Made it more realistic. You see a ton of books and movies about the end of the world or another World War and I felt like this was very realistic if I had to imagine what it would actually be like. Threats from every side, all while trying to grow and maintain new relationships. Jameson did a great job making me believe this is how nuclear war would play out.

My biggest issue with the story is that for the most part it was realistic. This could happen. But then they threw in the ghost twists and they felt out of place. It was as if they were just put there to make the book more exciting, but honestly it just made them more confusing. I would have much preferred the story without those. I also felt there were many times the story lulled to a point where I almost lost interest, but it always picked up right when I was gonna give up reading it. Not many, but there were enough of these instances that had me question finishing it at points.

With that being said, overall it was a good book. Definitely not like anything I have ever read before. Definitely for someone who likes thrillers, likes end of world type books, and like a little science fiction mixed in. I’ll be looking to check out the next book from Hanna Jameson.

STAR RATING: 3/5

Pick up your copy of The Last by Hanna Jameson on Amazon and your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Make sure to check out more novels by author Hanna James on Amazon HERE.